A legal practitioner and human rights activist, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has accused the Nigeria Police of operating outside its jurisdiction by recovering debt from a woman on the instigation of her husband.

The incident which took place at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Sunday (Mothers Day) elicited a serious drama, wild condemnation and is already causing ripples among the police hierarchy.

“The unequivocal answer is NO. Statutory laws and numerous judicial precedents have consistently affirmed that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is not authorized to act as a debt recovery agency”, he said.

Ejiofor, lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was reacting to the devastating account of police brutality – How monitoring unit personnel of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, arrested, brutalized, tortured, and detained Mrs. Joy Smart Chinenye based on a petition filed by her husband, George Obinna Smart Unaegbu, over alleged debt:

According to him, Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Act clearly outlines the duties of the NPF, making no provision for debt recovery.

He said, “Furthermore, superior courts have repeatedly ruled that the police cannot be used as a tool for private financial disputes. Some notable cases reinforcing this position include:
Kure V Commissioner of Police (2020) LPELR-49378(SC). Madaki & ANOR V GTB & ANOR (2022) LPELR-57419(CA).

“On a day globally recognized as Mothering Sunday, a mother of three found herself unjustly detained instead of celebrating motherhood. Acting on a petition from her legally married husband, personnel from the Monitoring Unit of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Abuja, on March 28, 2025, arrested, brutalized, tortured, and detained her over an alleged unpaid debt.

“Her husband had allegedly given her funds for forex trading, which she was unable to repay. Rather than seek civil redress – assuming he had a valid cause of action against his wife – he enlisted the police. Officers stormed their Lagos home, forcibly arrested her in the presence of their children, and detained her at FCID Annex, Panti.

“There, she was coerced into transferring ₦5 million to her husband’s account. When she could not commit to paying an additional ₦10 million, she was forcibly transported to Abuja and held at the notorious Abattoir detention facility, a known holding ground for hardened criminals.

“Shockingly, in her absence, her husband relocated their children and took possession of her personal belongings.”

The activist told journalists that it is a direct violation of Police Directives.

He said the Nigeria Police Service Commission (NPSC) under the distinguished Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu (RTD) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have issued clear directives prohibiting officers from engaging in complaints on land disputes, arrests by proxy, debt recovery, among others.

Ejiofor said, “Despite this, officers involved in this case blatantly disregarded these directives, prioritizing obvious private financial interests over their constitutional mandate.”

He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to order the immediate and unconditional release of Mrs. Joy Smart Chinenye; initiate a thorough investigation into this gross abuse of power; and sanction all officers involved to deter future misconduct.

He said, “While legal action is being considered, it is imperative to bring this case to public attention to prevent further desecration of the rule of law. The Nigeria Police must not be unscrupulously used as a tool for settling private disputes – especially on a day meant to honour mothers.

“This is particularly egregious given that the highest echelon of the Police Authority has sternly warned and prohibited its personnel from indulging in such ignoble acts that tarnish the institution’s reputation.”

ENDS***